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The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, through the Special Synodical Committee on Liturgical Revival organized in Neapoli of Thessalonica and from Octomber 13-17, the 3rd Pan-Hellenic Symposium on Liturgical Renewal, having as its theme: THE MYSTERY OF HOLY EUCHARIST. This Symposium was held at the Holy Metropolis of Neapolis and Stavroupolis and it was honored by the presence of His Beatitude the Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens all Greece. Also present were their Eminences Metropolitans Spiridon of Lagadas, Apostolos of Polyani and Kilkis, Prokopios of Philippi, Neapolis and Thasos, Prokopios of New Krini and Kalamaria, Nicodemus of Ierissos And the Holy Mountain, Evdokimos of Eleftheroupolis, Agathonikos of Kitros and Katerini, John of Pergamos, Ierotheos of Limnos, Panteleimon of Berrhoea, Naousa and Kambania, Panteleimon of Xanthi and Peritheorion, Alexandros of Stavropigion, Basil of Elassona, Ignatios of Dimitias and Almiron, Nicodimos of Kassandria, and the Bishops Panteleimon of Theoupoleos and John of Thermopylae. During the commencement meeting, just after the blessing, a message of His Beatitude the Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece was read. The President of the Symposium, His Eminence Metropolitan Daniel of Kessariani, Vyronas and Hymettus, as well as the local Metropolitan Dionisios of Naples and Stavroupolis, addressed the Symposium. The latter also declared the opening of the Symposium in place of His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos who could not be present at the very beginning of the Symposium. The opening session of the Symposium was also attended by representatives from the School of Theology of the University of Thessalonica as well as by the local authorities, on whose behalf the Dean of the School of Theology Professor John Tarnaridis and Mr. Nathanael Ladopoulos, the Chairman of the City Council of the Municipality of Neapolis, greeted the Symposium respectively. The Symposium was attended by the 200 invited representatives, both clergy and lay, from all the Dioceses of the Church of Greece, who heard 14 separate papers delivered by scholars, specialists in their field, relevant to the theme of the Symposium. Following each paper a fruitful and broad discussion among the delegates ensued -- one of the characteristic features of the Symposium. The Symposium particularly focused on the following key points: 1. First of all, all the speakers highlighted the paramount importance that the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist has for our Orthodox Christian faith. It is through this Sacrament that the mystery of the Church is chiefly expressed. Hence, the need that it should always be performed "decently and in order" as the manifestation par excellence of the festal gathering of the Church in a specific place. 2. The analysis of the historical development of the ritual form and the texts of the prayers and hymns used in the celebration of the Eucharist, showed forth the fidelity of the Church throughout the centuries to the ancient eucharistic tradition and showed forth this sacred Mystery (Sacrament) as the prime factor in the formation of the structure of the body of the Church. 3. The biblical sub-structure and the eschatological dimension of the sacrament of the Eucharist was particularly emphasized. Also highlighted was the need for further study of the problem of rearranging the Church Scriptural readings so that the entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is read and an opportunity provided for it be be expounded for the edification of the faithful. 4. It was also demonstrated that the sermon is an integral part of the Eucharistic assembly. It should therefore be given in simple language understood by the people, and should be delivered at its proper place, immediately after the scripture readings. It was also stressed that the sermon should retain its traditional soteriological character, as an interpretation of Scripture and as an initiation into Divine Worship (i.e. it should be a biblical, liturgical and mystagogical sermon). 5. It emphasized the need to avoid disorderly and exaggerated ceremonial practices that are sometimes observed. It also greeted as a positive event the anticipated new version of the Synodical edition of the Hieraticon (Priest's prayer book), which will provide a solid basis for the restoration of ceremonial order in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. 6. The active and conscious participation of the people during the celebration of the Holy Liturgy was one of the main points of the Symposium's concern. Thus, the need for further understanding of the elements that highlight the communal nature of the Divine Liturgy was emphasized, e.g. the "decent and pious" attitude of the faithful at the Liturgy, their participation in the chanting, the audible reading of the holy prayers by the celebrant and focusing upon the dialogic manner in which the Eucharistic anaphora is to be expressed. 7. The Symposium expressed the opinion that the communal character of the Sacrament of the Eucharist requires the restitution of the traditional manner of rendering audibly all the petitions and prayers by the celebrating clergy, who should always keep in mind that they are not chanters and thus must not chant the texts of the prayers; further, the variety of liturgical modual tones used should be limited, the traditional ones being preferred in rendering the musical parts of the Liturgy, which in any case should be executedsimply, so that the people's participation in the chanting is facilitated. 8. The contribution in general of the liturgical arts in shaping the spiritual atmosphere needed for the celebration of the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist was underlined as was the need for monitoring, through the competent of the Synodical Committees, the criteria that prevail today governing the construction and decoration of Orthodox churches. 9. It was commonly accepted by the Symposium that the change observed in lifestyle of contemporary man requires that the Church pastors take all measures necessary to facilitate the faithful in attending the Eucharistic synaxis. 10. The need and importance of frequent Holy Communion, received by the communicant under proper conditions was particularly stressed, since Holy Communion is "the bread that descended from Heaven", with which the Church daily nourishes her children, "unto the remission of sins and life eternal". At the same time, the equally great significance that the Sacred Canons and the Canonical regulations regarding the orderly celebration of the Liturgy and the manner in which the faithful approach Holy Communion was also underlined. 11. The Symposium announced that the Special Synodical Committee on Liturgical Renewal has promoted the publication of not only the Hieraticon (Priest's prayer book), but also of a series of auxiliary liturgical publications such as the Minutes of the present and the two previous Liturgical Symposia, the "Eklogadion" containing the liturgical biblical texts and a translation in modern Greek and of theological and liturgical booklets with an interpretation and commentary on the sacred Mysteries etc. 12. Finally, the Symposium expressed the wish that the Holy Synod continue its systematic effort for the liturgical formation and education of both clergy and laity, thereby continuing the age-old mystagogical traditions of our Church, within the spirit of which this Symposium was held. The culminating point of the Symposium was the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. Panteleimon, Ambelokipi, atn which Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos presided and in which many hierarchs co-celebrated; during the Liturgy the majority of the participants in the Symposium received the Sacred Mysteries, i.e. Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. |
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